Full service law firm JMW Solicitors LLP has announced a change in management for their Personal Injury Team with Andrew Lilley and Gordon Cartwright taking over as Joint Heads of the Personal Injury team at JMW after Richard Powell retired from the firm after over 25 years of service at the firm and the recruitment of Cathy Leech to Head the Catastrophic Injury Team. They will be aiming to build on their strong success in serious injury work for their expanding client base and their relationships with charities such as CBIT, Headway, Backup and the Spinal Injuries Association.

Andy Lilley has been at JMW for over 25 years and has substantial experience in the area of catastrophic injury cases. He has dealt with numerous multi-million-pound settlements. He is a trustee for Headway Preston and Chorley, the brain injury association. Legal Directory Chambers and Partners 2023 says about Andy: "Andrew Lilley simply excels in the area of client service for brain injury cases. He found just the right balance in keeping me informed at every stage whilst being supportive of my focus on recovery. I would not hesitate to recommend him."

Gordon Cartwright joined JMW in September 2001 as a trainee, qualified in 2003 and became a Partner in 2009. Gordon also specialises in catastrophic injury claims with a particular interest in paediatric brain injury claims and regularly secures seven figure settlements for his clients. He is a Special Ambassador for the Child Brain Injury Trust and in March 2022 JMW were awarded the Corporate Supporter Award at the inaugural CBIT Diamond Awards for their ongoing support and fundraising for the charity.

Cathy Leech has joined as Partner and Head of Catastrophic Injury from Irwin Mitchell where she was a Partner for over 8 years. Cathy specialises in spinal cord, brain and complex injury claims and is well known for her work for many years with the Spinal Injuries Association. She has successfully won over 50 personal injury claims for spinal cord injured claimants and has won several awards for her work including Solicitor in Private Practice at the Law Society Excellence awards, SIA Rebuilding Lives Awards for both Fundraising (2018) and Excellence in Legal Care (2013) and Catastrophic Injury Lawyer of the year at the Personal Injury Awards 2019. The Legal 500 2023 ranks Cathy in their Hall of Fame for Personal Injury work in the North West and states: “Catherine Leech is probably the best spinal injury solicitor in the country.”

The 50 strong Personal Injury department at JMW are 22% ahead of its target for the 2022/23 financial year. Under Andy’s and Gordon’s new leadership the focus for the team will be to further develop high grade catastrophic work while continuing to concentrate on niche areas of work such as armed forces, travel and cycling claims. They also plan to bring in some further high profile new recruits to the team in 2023

Commenting on their new appointments Andy Lilley and Gordon Cartwright said:

“We are delighted to have taken over from Richard Powell as Joint Heads of the Personal Injury team at JMW. Richard worked tirelessly over 25 years at JMW to make the personal injury team a great success and has left us a highly talented and experienced team. We are looking forward to continuing to strengthen our charitable partnerships and attract high grade catastrophic work to help us grow and strengthen the team further. We are both extremely pleased to welcome Cathy Leech to the team at JMW and her tremendous reputation and experience especially in spinal cord injuries is a great asset. The team at JMW will continue to achieve the best outcomes possible for our clients.”

Commenting on her new role at JMW, Cathy Leech said:

“I am very pleased to have joined the Personal Injury team at JMW especially at an exciting time when Andy and Gordon have taken over leadership of an already successful team. I am looking forward to helping to strengthen and grow the team’s charitable partnerships. I know at JMW I will be able to continue to help my clients get the outcomes they deserve.”

JMW has just been ranked 28 in the Large Best Companies to work for and were named the 5th best law firm to work for.